ESSAY CONTAINS EXPLICIT CONTENT

In “Anonymous” I used stand-ins for self portraits and this allowed me to step outside of my self.

The nameless women silently speak for me. They become me in a universal sense. I think it might be easier to reveal our deeper truths anonymously. I am anonymously directing the emotional expression of universal characters. In essence these photographs are emotion portraits, and by stepping away from my individuality, I feel it invites the viewer to engage themselves in the mystery of their own truths, or to contemplate how the emotions depicted resonate in their own lives.

“Anonymous” was published in the last year in Al Limite Magazine, Eyemazing and Mono by Gomma Books.

Bio

Sofía López Mañan was born in 1982 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has a B.A degree in fine arts by the Instituto Universitario Nacional de las Artes. She also studied advertising, photography and art direction in film.

In 2012 was awarded by Mono open call for emerging photographers and was also nominated to attend the Joops Master class. She also received in 2011 a scholarship to attend the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop and participated in Buenos Aires PhotoWorkshop.

Her work as been exhibit in Argentina, Spain and in various international art fairs.

She currently works as freelance photojournalist working in various national media and at the same time makes documentary projects independently.

17 Responses to “Sofía López Mañán – Anonymous”

“Being with you and not being with you is the only way I have to measure time.”–Borges

….

MAGNIFICENT…

channeling Francesca Woodman and bringing that haunted, hanging self of time and immutable self into the modern….gravity defying, shadow licking, time buckling, heart splitting love of the reimagined….

What Beautiful vision.
This is work I can gaze for hours on end.
The mystery and surrealism are well balanced. It works well.
I would like to know more about “the hanging” theme you are playing with or is so much a part of your work…..the reoccurring theme is better put I suppose.
Your work fits right in here.
Congratulations!

I disagree intensely with John Gladdy.
I found the work moving and thought provoking.
Artists are asked to provide statements about their work. Sorry, but “I am an artist and I make art and sometimes it’s even good” doesn’t cut it.
Rage is not the only emotion.

Interesting but I feel that there is something amiss in the sense of scale, once objects and people are removed they work. There needs some dominance otherwise the concept gets muddled and lost, the work seems to have more of an affiliation with teenage fantasy then women. Despite that there is a nice potential if the photographer allows herself a greater level of freedom to move conceptually

Given how even the most horrific scenes of war, famine, murder, death and all manner of woe and suffering are so commonplace and standard in today’s imagery, it is very rare for me to open up a page and to be shocked by the first image I see.

Yet, when I opened up Burn and saw the image of the photographer hanging from the tree it shocked me profoundly. I am not certain, but I think I heard myself gasp. Why? The only reason I can think of is because of what real life has delivered to me in this regard.

Anyway, I went on to blow the essay up to full 27 inch screen size and to study and ponder each image over three visits. Before ever reading any other comments, I felt two conflicting thoughts regarding this work. First, I was amazed at how well thought out, conceived and executed each image was, and how each qualifies as a genuine work of art.

And I also felt a certain sadness for the photographer, because for all her mastery of image and the profound statements she makes and whatever moments of acclaim she might garner in the art world, I seriously doubted that many people would ever care.

But maybe that doesn’t matter.

Maybe what matters is that the artist went into herself to create a unique vision that is at once beautiful and grim.

And maybe I am wrong. Maybe it will reach a larger audience than I imagine.

Thank you, Sofia, for turning whatever of your life’s dark moments inspired this into works of art.

Sophia
Congratulations for publishing this wonderful series here on burn.
I’ve avoided commenting until now because although I was taken with these photographs, I really didn’t know what to say about how I felt about them. However, like others here, I kept going back to them, and today, like Frostfrog, I viewed them on a large 24in monitor full screen. They sing there.

Although I usually abhor titles, I agree with Paul that it might be helpful. I can probably attach my own stories to the images, not a bad thing, but would be curious what your intent is for each photo.

These photographs are beautifully crafted.

Frostfrog.I believe strongly that ultimately, we create for ourselves. Wether or not our vision reaches a larger audience really in the end probably should not matter. Having only recently begun to share my personal work has created a change in how I make pictures, as now I am conscious of the fact that others will be viewing them. I cannot avoid the influence. I’m still un-sure wether that is a good thing or not. Recognition?, I suppose we all must want to feel validated, and to leave a mark. I struggle with this.